Pacific countries join 2021 World Food Day celebrations
Pacific countries are preparing to join the global celebration of World Food Day (WFD) 2021. World Food Day normally falls on 16 October 2021, which is a Saturday in many Pacific countries, and for this reason, many countries celebrated the day on Friday.
The celebrations globally spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and nationally led by governments, will be held for the second time during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted agri-food systems and increased food insecurity and inequality.
This however has inspired the theme for this year which is “Our Actions, our Future: Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.”
The celebration is designed to show how people can come together towards a common goal.
“This year’s WFD finds us at a critical moment,” QU Dongyu, the DirectorGeneral of FAO said in his WFD message.
“Yet in the midst of this all, there is an encouraging new momentum and energy building as we strive to overhaul the ways in which our food is produced, stored, distributed and consumed. We have started confronting the problems and making the structures more fit for purpose.”
In the Pacific region, the FAO Subregional Office has been working with 14 member countries to tailor-make their celebrations and provide the necessary support to ensure their celebrations are successful.
The celebration is also bringing together sectors involved in food, nutrition and agriculture. In Samoa for example, the government has joined forces with the private sector, showing a united front to encourage healthy lifestyles and the need for better nutritious habits.